Community Spirit

ATLANTA -- Georgia students in grades 5-12 are encouraged to apply for the 2013 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

The awards program began searching for its next batch of honorees this week. Recipients of the award are young people who have made meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We have been recognizing youth volunteers since 1995 and still, every year, we're amazed by the stories of exemplary community service," Prudential chairman and CEO John Strangfeld said in a statement. "We look forward to honoring the top youth volunteers of 2013 for their selflessness, their initiative and their dedication to changing communities for the better."

ATHENS, Ga. -- Athens is No. 8 on a list of Top 10 College Towns compiled by Livability.com, a website that spotlights communities outside of large cities and produces multiple lists that focus on quality of life, vacation and employment opportunities, reports the Athens Banner-Herald.

To develop its third annual list of top college towns, Livability.com editors considered factors like cost of living, "walkability," ratio of students to residents and the economic impact the school has on the city.

The website said of Athens: "The cost of living in Athens is low when compared to the national average, and residents can experience college events that range from theater performances and art shows to football games and happy hours."

ATHENS, Ga. -- You can do your part this week to curb Georgia's high school dropout rate. All you need to do is eat at one of your favorite restaurants.

On Thursday, Aug. 23, proceeds from restaurants across the state will be donated to Communities in Schools of Georgia, an organization that encourages young people to complete their education and succeed in life.

The sixth annual Dine Out for Kids event hopes to exceed last year's total of $30,000 for children in the state.

Communities in Schools, which has chapters across the country, provides mentoring and after-school services, including parent education, literacy programs and youth leadership opportunities.

Participating Dine Out for Kids restaurants in the Athens-Clarke County area include:

ATLANTA -- Enjoy a cool treat and help kids in need at the same time on Dairy Queen's Miracle Treat Day.

On Thursday, June 26, the fast food chain will donate one dollar from every Blizzard Treat sold to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, which provides funding for 170 children's hospitals in North America.

ATHENS, Ga. -- Members of the Georgia National Guard plan to visit the University of Georgia to present a university flag that was flown over their base in Afghanistan.

The Guard's Agribusiness Development Team plans to present the flag on Monday to faculty from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences with a UGA flag that was flown over the team's base in Logar Province.

The team is made up of citizen-soldiers from across Georgia who are part of the 201st Regional Support Group based in Augusta. They served in Afghanistan for about a year and returned home last month. They helped Afghans develop more productive farming practices and new markets for their produce.

Soldiers from the unit trained with faculty from the college at UGA's Athens campus in February 2011.

From 6 a.m. on Friday, June 8 until 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 10, local law enforcement officers will be on the roofs of the Krispy Kremes, where they will eat, sleep and play while collecting donations from customers.

The money raised during Cops on Doughnut Shops will go to the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Georgia.